Callelly gets almost 50% of all donations

FIANNA FÁIL’S Ivor Callelly, forced to resign his junior ministry in December last after availing of a free perk, received almost half of all declared donations made to TDs, senators and MEPs last year.

The Dublin North-Central TD pulled in €69,600 of the €147,526 declared by the country’s national and European representatives.

Mr Callelly received the money from 40 individual donors, who made contributions ranging from €750 to €2,500.

Most of those came through a golf classic to raise funds for the TD. He stepped down from his junior ministry at the Transport Department after it emerged a construction firm had paid for painting work at his house in the 1990s.

Next highest on the list was Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who received a donation valued at €18,000. This was not cash, but the value of the constituency office given rent-free by his party.

Third highest on the list was another Fianna Fáil TD, Barry Andrews, who received €11,882. Again, however, the bulk of that figure - €11,000 - was the value of an office loaned to Mr Andrews.

Fourth on the list was the embattled Fianna Fáil TD, Jim McDaid, who received free use of a constituency office from a motor firm, the value of which was put at €11,000.

Next was Defence Minister Willie O’Dea, who received €7,750 in contributions from six donors.

Overall, Fianna Fáil accounted for €136,962 (93%) of the €147,526 declared by TDs, senators and MEPs last year.

Fine Gael politicians declared donations of €5,824, Labour declared €3,740, and Independent TD Catherine Murphy declared €1,000.

However, the SIPO figures do not represent a comprehensive account of the money in politics. TDs, senators and MEPs have to disclose only those donations which exceed €634.87.

Meanwhile, SIPO yesterday confirmed Mr Callelly would not be facing an investigation regarding his entry in the register of Dáil members’ interests.